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Love

Love. Chapter 13. Eros. Romantic Love (physical lust) Lust in classical myth- poems that caution against and recommend. Venus in mythology cursed love after Adonis (her love) died, will cause suffering, war, misery

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Love

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  1. Love Chapter 13

  2. Eros • Romantic Love (physical lust) • Lust in classical myth- poems that caution against and recommend. • Venus in mythology cursed love after Adonis (her love) died, will cause suffering, war, misery • Lust in Medieval times-although strongly Christian times, lust creeps into poems and songs(Canterbury Tales) • Lust in Shakespeare- Romeo and Juliette pursue their physical attraction, disregarding everything else, people embraced hedonism at this time

  3. Eros in eastern culture • A Thousand and One Nights-Scheherezade is the young bride of a Sultan. After their wedding nights, the Sultan has his new brides executed. In order to avoid her fate, Scheherezade tells his stories for 1001 nights until he sees her as a human and not to be killed • Tells of wild love , scandalized their Victorian counterparts

  4. Adultery • 18th century-it was expected men kept mistresses • Common theme in arts of the time- • The Marriage of Figaro • Don Giovanni

  5. Agape • Greek for “love” • Platonic Love- Plato’s term for nonphysical love (family and friendship fall under this category), the highest form of love is the love of a beautiful mind • Platonic love (Agape)was taken on by Christians to refer to the love God shows humanity, and human spiritual love • Few can live up to these standards, transcend physical, passage of time, ideal of perfection

  6. Family love • Expect loyalty and favors without asking why • Family dynamics have changed over time • Role of step siblings/parents, non-traditional families, biological vs. adopted • How important are blood ties, less about blood, more about family bonds • Families still have conflict

  7. Family in religion • Hebrews developed father-child relationship with god, set standard for families (love/fear/respect) • Wives join new families • Honor thy father and thy mother (restatement of tribal requirements) • Confucius wants an elder-centered home, very different from today’s child-centered

  8. Friendship • According to Plato, friendship is among the highest goods of the happy life. • “kin by choice” • Increased importance in a world where the “nuclear family” (parents, kids, grandkids) is deteriorating. • Now have “extended family” which includes blood relatives, life-long friends, recent acquaintances • American fear of isolation in modern society • Commercial example

  9. Romantic love • Archetype of “The One”, common in Western culture, but not universal • Belief in “true love” which transcends physical attraction, or social advantage • Basis of hopes and dreams for millions • Willing to suffer for it • Rooted in 3 sources- • Mariolatry, • Chivalry, • Romance genre

  10. Romance has its roots in… • Idolatry of Mary • People were fascinated by her purity and glory • Held women to the same standards • Romance as a literary genre came from this time • Chivalry-knights code of honor, protect, placing the lady first in any order of events • True love was made in heaven and therefore above earthly concerns (physical) Mariolatry Romance and Chivalry

  11. Love as amusement • Set of rules for proper courtship • Man would declare passionate love for a lady, attempt a series of tasks to perform to earn her love • High-bred woman was meant to be adored, man was her slave • “love is a game of seduction” • 17th century aristocrats would start verbal matches, then over time end in physical or physical-romantic relationships • Much Ado About Nothing, Taming of the Shrew Courtly Love Love as a Game

  12. Love and marriage The Victorian Model • Very strict code of conduct • Specific gender roles- • male is the breadwinner, make the big decisions, decide who their daughters married • Female ran the household, dealt with the servants, chose the menu, wore costly clothing and jewels to show off husband’s wealth • Double standard-women must be chaste, still exists today

  13. New versions- no longer confined to same religion, ethnic group, class level, opposite gender, children before marriage, marriage never

  14. Love in a time of health hazards • Pairing of love and disease has a long history in the humanities • Losing love to aids, consumption, or other illnesses • Love and old age

  15. Imagining a world in which only sex exists • Warnings about separating love and sex are evident in literary works that attack utopianism (belief that there are ideal ways to plan and run a society) • Plato’s The Republic • Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World • Orwell’s 1984 • Atwood’s The Handmaiden’s Tale • All of these show that love is a natural instinct that cannot be denied or controlled by outside forces

  16. In conclusion… • Humanities teach us that we are free to choose, and that includes the freedom to define love • What is most meaningful for us? • May choose to remain single • May decide love is not to be defined at all

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